Newly released evidence suggests that the non-proft City Year's "Whole School, Whole Child" initiative has improved test scores and overall improvements in the schools that adopt it.

"Schools that participated in City Year's 150 school wide programs in 22 cities were more likely to see overall improvements on their states' mathematics and English/language arts tests than similar schools that did not participate, according to a new evaluation of schools in the nonprofit program's 150 schools," said Education Week.

The study looked at three school years and compared the schools working with City Year to comparative local schools in the area, respectively.

"School practices—data reviews, shared teacher-planning time, appreciation and reward activities, community-partnership development, tutoring frequency, and progress monitoring of students—were used to evaluate the schools' levels of implementation," EdWeek said.

The result was that City View schools, who are given a team of up to 18 AmeriCorps supporters through the program, were mostly likely to see students who improve on math and reading scores.

"In one City View school, "corps members..helped develop and put on eight 'Homework Diners' catered by local restaurants, in which parents and nearly all of the schools' teachers come to discuss how parents can help their children with math assignments and play math-related games at home," the article said.

The Whole Child approach, which has made it onto ASCD's first global agenda for the success of students across the world, is an approach that relies on social-emotional learning, mentorship, mental health support, and strong parent-student relations to best improve student performance in the classroom. The approach goes beyond focusing on student ability and takes into consideration, literally, the whole child.

This new study is significant evidence that the approach could be the answer to many under-performing and struggling schools.

Read the full article here and comment below.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

06/11/2015